The Morton Street Tree Canopy is one of only a few unprotected natural assets left in the City of Boston. This beautiful, mature canopy is under immediate threat of destruction by a developer who has submitted a proposal to erect a 4-acre soccer field on this parcel of land, in perpetuity. 

The effects of climate change are real! We are in the midst of a climate crisis! The time to protect our community is NOW! Destroying this tree canopy to install a toxic and impervious artificial turf will have the following devastating impacts:

• Demolish countless mature trees
• Remove an existing natural barrier against pollution and noise from Morton Street traffic
• Contaminate the Canterbury Brook
• Displace and poison wildlife
• Create an enormous four acre heat island
• Exacerbate asthma and other respiratory illnesses within the community
• Expose residents to potentially cancer causing particulates from PFAS (Forever Chemicals) found in artificial turf
• Create more injustices in an environmental justice community

We, the undersigned are requesting the following action steps be taken by the Division of Capital Assets and Maintenance (DCAMM,) Commonwealth of MA and the City of Boston:

• Protect, preserve and restore the mature Morton Street Tree Canopy.
• Institute a Tree Moratorium to protect the existing canopy from development until the Tree Ordinance is implemented. 
• Engage the community to determine alternative uses for this parcel that will benefit all residents, and will also enhance, not destroy the natural elements.
• Request the developer to construct this field on an existing site which will not require the destruction of mature trees.
• Review development projects through an environmental lens.
• Ensure projects reflect the City's pledge to increase the urban tree canopy and the urban forest.

To learn more about the benefits of trees, environmental racism, environmental justice communities, and the harmful effects of artificial turf, please click the links below.

Breaking News!!  Today, May 25, 2022, Attorney General Maura Healy announced that her office will be filing a lawsuit against 13 PFAS manufacturing companies.  These are also known as the forever chemicals  that are found in toxic artificial turf.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/toxic-e2-80-98forever-chemicals-e2-80-99-found-in-cambridge-drinking-water/ar-AA11cAzj​

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/does-playing-on-artificial-turf-pose-a-health-risk-for-your-child/2017/03/17/0c61b7b4-0380-11e7-ad5b-d22680e18d10_story.html​

https://www.eenews.net/articles/our-community-has-been-deceived-turf-wars-mount-over-pfas/​

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24467230/​

https://www.treesaregood.org/treeowner/benefitsoftrees​

https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/8/15/racial-disparities-and-climate-change

Please read, sign and SHARE this petition.  Please support this very important effort which effects our entire community! Once the trees are gone, the negative impacts will last forever!